ARAB-US RELATIONS - Mar 16 - Coalition In Iraq Not Fraying, Bush Says.

Pres Bush says he did not believe the coalition of nations put together by the US to fight in Iraq is fraying, even though the Italian PM said that he plan to begin withdrawing his nation's troops as early as September. At a news conference at the White House, Bush said he had talked to PM Silvio Berlusconi, who assured him that the Italians would leave only when Iraq is more stable. "He wanted me to know that there was no change in his policy, that in fact any withdrawals would be done in consultation with allies and would be done depending upon the ability of Iraqis to defend themselves", Bush said. Berlusconi, one of Bush's few close allies in Europe, said in brief comments on the Italian talk show "Porta a Porta" that it was time to put together an exit strategy for Italian troops. "I've spoken about it with Tony Blair, and it's the public opinion of our countries that expects this decision", Berlusconi said on the show, referring to the British PM. "We have to build an exit strategy". But on Mar 16, both Berlusconi and Blair tried to clarify that neither of them meant that a pullout would begin before Iraq is ready to defend itself. In a letter released, Berlusconi emphasised that any pullout would be gradual, Reuters reported. The letter, which is to be published in the Il Foglio newspaper, gave more details of his disclosure of the pullout plans. "Italy can start to discuss with Baghdad authorities and coalition allies the possible and gradual withdrawal of the military mission in Nasiriya starting in September", Berlusconi's letter said. He said Italy would pay "meticulous attention" to prevent "any obstacles for the peaceful reconstruction of Iraq". Blair said during a weekly session with Parliament that the September date cited by Berlusconi is simply a reference to the fact that by September we hope the Iraqi security forces will be in a much better position, but it does not mean that we should set an arbitrary timetable for withdrawal. "We should withdraw when the job is done, not before", he said. Berlusconi's comments about withdrawing troops seemed to come in response to the growing opposition in his country to Italian involvement in the Iraq war. So far, 21 Italian troops have died in Iraq. Opposition deepened two weeks ago when an Italian intelligence agent was fatally shot in Iraq by American soldiers after he obtained the freedom of a kidnapped Italian journalist. Berlusconi also said in the same interview that he would run for re-election in the spring of 2006. Blair is also facing internal opposition to the war in his country. The US-led forces in Iraq once included 38 member nations; now they are down to 24. Italy has the fourth-largest contingent of foreign troops in Iraq, with 3,000, and its soldiers act largely as peacekeepers near the southern city of Nasiriya. But Britain, with 8,000 troops, the second-largest contingent after the US' force of 150,000, has not announced any withdrawal date. Poland, another European ally, has announced it will withdraw several hundred of its 1,700 troops in July with the intent of leaving entirely around the start of the new year. The Netherlands and Ukraine have both begun withdrawing their combined 2,900 troops or plan to do so. Bush said at the White House briefing that his allies were telling him that they remained committed to staying in Iraq until that nation has been stabilised. Bush said: I think what you're going to find is that countries will be willing or anxious to get out when Iraqis have got the capacity to defend themselves. And that's the position of the US. Our troops will come home when Iraq is capable of defending herself. People want their troops home, but they don't want their troops home if it affects the mission". He said he did not believe the coalition in Iraq was crumbling. "Quite to the contrary", he said. "I think the coalition has been buoyed by the courage of the Iraqi people. I think they've been pleased and heartened by the fact that the Iraqis went to the polls and voted and are now putting together a government, and they see progress is being made. I share that sense of enthusiasm about what's taking place in Iraq", Bush said. At the news conference, Bush would not provide a timetable for how long European nations should wait before they make good on their threat to seek punishments against Iran at the UN Security Council if Iran does not give up its suspected nuclear arms program. Bush said: We're waiting for an Iranian response. The understanding is we go to the Security Council if they reject the offer. And I hope they don't. I hope they realize the world is clear about making sure that they don't end up with a nuclear weapon".